fable

so here we are and the school year is in full swing. the beginning of the academic year is equivalent to a brain aneurysm to some extent, mainly because it's just really busy. however, once you get your rules, procedures, and routines down you are ready to roll. let me start by saying one of my main goals in the first month is to create a culture of learning and climate of kindness in my classroom. it's not always an easy task, but it can be done. i want children to know that my classroom is a safe place where they can learn, grow, and interact with me...and with one another. i want them to have fun and be friends. i believe the best kind of learning happens in this type of environment. don't get me wrong, it's not always unicorns and rainbows and there are arguments and altercations occasionally, but for the most part...my classroom is a warm, inviting place to be. that all being said, yesterday at snack time, one little guy in my classroom walked up to another little girl and called her the "f" word. he called her "fat." (oof.) it was unprovoked, out of the blue, and totally uncalled for. the little girl that the remark was directed to is, in fact, a plumper gal, wears glasses, and is a bit quirky. she excels at art and loves to act. she's an old soul in a lot of ways, has a wicked sense of humor (she's one of my favorites, naturally) and when this was said, she looked directly at me and her sad eyes said, "help." my heart sunk.

in these moments, it takes everything in my being not to wig out. i wanted to be an advocate for this sweet natured, kind-hearted, little girl, but i also had to keep the other child's best interest at heart. i know, for instance, that he has an absent father and lots of older brothers and sisters. he is also a child that has anger issues and sometimes when he makes a mistake and i correct him, he hits himself in the head over and over. so i gently called him back to my desk and asked him why he would say something unkind to this little girl to intentionally hurt her feelings. he shrugged his shoulders. i went on to ask him if he would say something like that to me (his teacher) to intentionally hurt my feelings. he said no (and looked mortified.) i explained that we all treat each other with respect in our classroom community. i respect him just as much as he should respect me. also, that there is mutual respect between all students. he nodded his head. many times, i think people don't respect children and then they don't get the respect from them that they deserve. i respect these little people for who they are and i respect them for who they will be someday. in return, they most always give me their respect (and that is so important.) realizing what he had said hurt this little girl, he walked up and apologized. he then sat down and everyone was just thoughtfully munching on their snack. the little girl heard some of the conversation i had with him and she just looked at me and smiled afterward. her eyes said thank you. (that's all i needed.)

so fast forward to today, we read the story 'the tortoise and the hare.' if you don't know this one, you've been living under a rock the past 234 years. cliff notes version, the tortoise is quiet and kind and the hare is flashy and rude. the hare challenges the tortoise to a race and expects to win. however, he gets distracted along the way, mainly because he is arrogant and thinks he will most definitely win. however, in the end, the tortoise wins due to his perseverance. sometimes when we read a story, we also act it out. it's a great way for students to recall and retell information (in a fun way). as i was sitting there, i thought about the incident from the day before...and then chose the little girl to be the tortoise and the little boy to be the hare. my selection was intentional and deliberate, but they (nor the rest of the class) didn't know that. they got up to the "starting line" and there were two kids on the other side of the room with a piece of yarn i whipped out of my desk as the finish line. i showed them the "race course" around the room and we all yelled, "ready, set, go!!" to start it off. the little girl slowly went off the line and plodded along. the little boy took off like he was run by a set of double D batteries. as part of the act he got "distracted" by sam the squirrel (another little boy with the energy of a legit squirrel) and let the tortoise pass him. before he knew it, she was crossing the finish line. every single child in my classroom was cheering mercilessly for this little girl as she went through the yarn finish line! the joy in her face was worth every minute it took to act out that story. however, it was when the little boy walked up and put his arm around her and said, "good job!" at the end, is what really got me. i don't know if he was acting the part or came out of character for that one, but it was awesome.

this all being said, this was a teachable moment that came to me off the cuff. i remembered an incident, intentionally picked the actors, and made a meaningful lesson for everyone (including myself.) parents need to remember that these little moments happen a hundred times a day and tell a whole lot more than that little worksheet your kid is bringing home. most teachers have your children's interest at best heart and work to help them become better human beings. most of all, we all make mistakes (i make a lot). this kid made a mistake by being mean spirited to someone that did not deserve it (it made my heart hurt), but in the end he learned from it with the help and guidance of someone who respected and cared for him. furthermore, i know that this little girl will probably go on to do big things. she might be teased throughout school, but hopefully she has teachers who will be her advocate along the way. eventually, she will be the last one laughing when she's riding around hollywood in her fancy car and paying no mind to the naysayers. (you go girl). the moral of the story the tortoise and the hare is "slow and steady wins the race." after we acted it out, we talked about how when we are faced with something really hard to do, if we stick to it...we will get the job done eventually. had my father written this fable, the moral would be, "suck it up." (i hear his voice in my head often.) the kids called out things that were difficult for them, but with persistence they did it. the monkey bars, reading a book, and learning to ride a bike were at the top of the list. i am fortunate to spend my days with kids who sometimes teach me far more than i teach them. however, if they come of out kindergarten simply remembering that kindness always wins...everyone's a winner. including me.